Get in the spirit of the season with these books

The Tulare County Librarians chose these books for every reader’s holiday pleasure and relaxation.

“Happy Herbivore: Holidays & Gatherings: Easy Plant-Based Recipes for Your Healthiest Celebrations and Special Occasions,” by Lindsay S. Nixon: Whether you are just looking for delicious, healthy, and easy to make recipes for the holidays and other special occasions or making a commitment to a plant-based diet, you will be sure to find something to delight your palate in this cookbook by vegan author and blogger Lindsay S. Nixon.

Recipes include twelve different special occasions from Christmas dinners, New Year’s Eve parties, Super Bowl Sunday gatherings, and lazy Sunday brunches. Each is easy enough to prepare on busy weeknights.

“My True Love Gave to Me – Twelve Holiday Stories,” Edited by Stephanie Perkins: For a fun book with holiday perspectives from various cultures and traditions, this collection of short stories is a perfect choice for young adults. The story of Maria in “Welcome to Christmas, CA” by Kiersten White is particularly compelling with realistic characters, all of whom react differently to the holidays.

“The Story of the Other Wise Man – A Short Story,” by Henry Van Dyke: First published in 1895, this is the tale of a fourth Wise Man who misses his meeting with the other three because he helps a dying man. He spends the rest of his life searching for the Christ child, and finally finds him in a touching and satisfying conclusion. This favorite for more than one hundred years has been reprinted and adapted in television, plays and operas.

(Photo: Submitted)

‘Twas Nochebuena,” by Roseanne Greenfield Thong: Gather the kids around for this feel-good re-interpretation of a classic in a holiday picture book. The author seamlessly incorporates both Spanish vocabulary and Latino traditions, making it as smooth a read as the original poem "The Night before Christmas.” The lively and colorful illustrations depict a multi-generational family spreading holiday cheer. The author also includes a glossary of Spanish terms and a note on the original author and his poem. It’s sure to make you smile.

“The New Christmas Tree,” by Carrie Brown. Trim the tree. It’s time to place homemade, store bought, and passed down ornaments on a variety of different themed trees. The author presents 24 “dazzling” themed trees including a Blue Tree, Red Tree, Woodland Tree with mushrooms, Paperwhite Tree with paper poinsettias and spun-string spheres, Hansel & Gretel Tree with candy toppers, Bejeweled Tree with pearls and old jewelry, and more. Marita’s favorites include the Upside-down Tree draped with pomegranates and homemade white yarn snowballs and the Tapestry Tree with velvet ribbon and chicken wire. Learn to make the many different ornaments and tree toppers, and bedazzle your family and friends.